Restore impacted protected forest in Puerto Rico

This report covers the period from October to December 2021 for a total of 635 labor hours invested in the project: ( 9-10 workers for planting, 1 for for beach cleanups, 1 for irrigation)all members from the community near the Guánica State Forest. Volunteers donated 115 hours, which account for roughly 18% of total labor hours completed.

A first planting event with volunteers and PDC personnel was held on October 9, 2021 in which 300 specimens of six native species were planted alongside road 333 of the Guánica Reserve. A second planting event was held on November 2021, with 380 native trees planted, again in teamwork between PDC and volunteers. An exponential rise in cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant led us to postpone a third planting event with volunteers we had scheduled for December 2021, but which we hope to celebrate in the January-March 2022 quarter.

During this reporting period the irrigation of the reforested sites became the priority to encourage adaptation and survival of the newly planted trees. On the other hand, beach cleanup and weeding was maintained. Despite conintued  difficulties faced this year (effects of 2020 earthquakes, pandemic and labor shortages) Protectores de Cuencas has managed to keep works of maintenance of 4 reforestation sites, and public recreational sites with emphasis in coastal areas prone to erosion and wildland fires like: La Jungla beach, PR-333, Jaboncillo beach and Manglillo beach. The access to the recreational areas are open Tuesday to Sunday from 7AM to 5PM, Mondays are closed for maintenance and cleanup.

The attached images include the work shedule by month showing irrigation, weeding, reforestation and cleanup days for this reporting period.

This report covers the period from June to September 2021 for a total of 1,416 labor hours, 10 workers (2 for beach cleanups, 8 for weeding) from the community near the Guánica State Forest. Despite the difficulties faced this year (earthquakes, pandemic and labor shortages) Protectores de Cuencas has managed to keep works of maintenance of 4 reforestation sites, and public recreational sites with emphasis in coastal areas prone to erosion and wildland fires like: La Jungla beach, PR-333, Jaboncillo beach and Manglillo beach. The access to the recreational areas are open Tuesday to Sunday from 7AM to 5PM, Mondays are closed for maintenance and cleanup.

Since June and July are the months with more visitors to the beach areas Protectores de Cuencas increased the amount of days for beach cleanups. During this reporting period the irrigation of the reforested sites was not necessary since these are the months of rain season. In the other hand, weeding of reforested sites continued.

The attached images include the work shedule by month showing irrigation, weeding, reforestation and cleanup days for this reporting period.

For the next reporting period Protectores de Cuencas is planning 3 reforestations activities (October, November and December) at the PR-333 in areas impacted by wildland fires and the hurricane season of 2017. For these activities Protectores de Cuencas will make an effort to implement COVID-19 protocols in order to intagrate community volunteers and invite other organizations to join us.